1 B e not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;

Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

2 f or their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

3 T hrough wisdom is a house built, and by understanding it is established;

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

4 a nd by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

6 F or with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

7 W isdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8 H e that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.

He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

9 T he purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.

The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 t hou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

11 D eliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.

If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

12 I f thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.

If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

13 E at honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:

My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

14 s o consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

15 L ay not wait, O wicked, against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.

Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

16 F or the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17 R ejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18 l est Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.

Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19 F ret not thyself because of evil-doers, be not envious of the wicked:

Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:

20 f or there shall be no future to the evil; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

21 M y son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.

My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

22 F or their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23 T hese things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 H e that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him;

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25 b ut to them that rebuke shall be delight, and a good blessing cometh upon them.

But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 H e kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.

Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

27 P repare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

28 B e not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

29 S ay not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to the man according to his work.

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

30 I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31 a nd lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32 T hen I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction:

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

33 — A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34 S o shall thy poverty come a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.